A Guide to Eco-Friendly Drinking Straws

The battle against single-use plastics is still raging on, and how we drink is especially under fire. As well as single-use water bottles, drinking straws are also being cut back on. Some bars, restaurants, and cafés have switched to only handing out straws when customers request them, rather than using them by default. Others are using more sustainable, eco-friendly options.

If you can’t resist drinking cocktails, milkshakes, and soda through a straw, here’s a guide to the different eco-friendly and reusable drinking straws out there…

Paper

Many establishments have now switched to paper straws. While these are still only single-use, they break down much, much faster than plastic straws (as long as they are disposed of properly) and many are made to be compostable. You can get drinks served with paper straws in many places now, or you could buy a pack of your own online to carry around with you or to use at home.

Metal

If you’re looking for something more reusable, then metal straws are another big trend. Mostly made from stainless steel, these straws can be used time and time again, so it’s a good idea to buy your own and carry it around with you if you want to cut back on plastic use. They’re dishwasher-friendly and many come with a small brush designed for cleaning inside of them. You can find them in different colors, and shaped to be straight or slightly bent.

Glass

Glass straws are similar to metal straws in that they are completely reusable and available in various different styles. They’re also shatterproof, so they’re safe to use and carry around.

Pasta

You read that right! I once had a drink in Spain served to me with a long tube of dry pasta as the straw. These are single-use since they become soggy in the drink (and probably aren’t suitable for hot drinks), but they’re compostable since it’s a natural product.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a highly sustainable product because it has a lot of the same properties as wood but, since it is a grass, it regrows in a fraction of the time compared to trees. Bamboo straws are reusable but are also biodegradable once you’re done with them. They also come with small cleaning brushes to keep them hygienic.

People are coming up with incredible innovations all the time to make our everyday habits more environmentally friendly. Why not buy your own reusable straws so you can drink your Mountain Park Spring Water in style? And get in touch if you’re looking for an environmentally friendly water delivery service in Martinsville, VA.